Stayin’ Alive: Dhooghe’s late overtime goal lifts Badgers
Malone notches 100th-career point in win
March 1, 2019
en’s hockey team landed on the right end of a see-saw scoring frenzy Friday night at the Kohl Center, downing the Michigan Wolverines, 5-4, in a thrilling overtime victory.
The victory, along with tonight’s victory by Notre Dame, keeps the Badgers alive for home ice in the Big Ten tournament. Wisconsin still needs a win tomorrow and more help from the Fighting Irish to play home games next weekend.
Sophomore winger Sean Dhooghe provided the heroics for the Badgers, scoring the game-winning goal with 26.2 seconds remaining in overtime to seal the win.
The Badgers (12-16-5, 8-10-5-2 Big Ten) and the Wolverines (13-13-7, 9-9-5-2 Big Ten) entered the second period tied 1-1, but Wisconsin took a 4-3 lead heading into the third period after senior Matthew Freytag, freshman Roman Ahcan and Dhooghe each put away goals.
The Wolverines forced overtime after scoring  early in the final frame to tie the game at four goals apiece, but Dhooghe secured the Badgers’ first overtime win since Feb. 4, 2017 with his team-leading 12th goal of the season.
Freshman goaltender Daniel Lebedeff made 26 saves in the victory.
Notes to Know:
- Wisconsin secured its first overtime win at home since Dec. 14, 2013 when the Badgers defeated Colorado College, 4-3, at the Kohl Center.
- With an assist in Friday’s win, senior forward Seamus Malone became the 74th Badger in school history to notch his 100th-career point. The Naperville, Illinois has 33 goals and 101 points in 139 games.
- Sophomore defenseman Josh Ess has three goals and four points in the last two games. Ess, who tallied the opening goal for the Badgers in Friday’s win, scored two goals last weekend at Penn State.
- In addition to scoring the game-winner, Dhooghe also notched his team-leading seventh power-play goal of the season in Friday’s victory.
Up Next:Â The Badgers will honor their six seniors as they close out the regular season against the Wolverines Saturday night at the Kohl Center. The game will be featured on the BTN at 8 p.m. (CT).
Straight from the Rink
Head Coach Tony Granato
On winning in overtime amongst all the implications:
“We wanted to win the game and we got that penalty and said we were going to try to be aggressive on defense and try to score shorthanded. We had a few chances, few really good chances shorthanded and we were going to try to pull the goalie there too, so Danny (Daniel) was coming on that rush. We had to win that game and to be able to make a play like that…it seems like a lot of bounces haven’t gone our way at key points this season and we needed a chance to capitalize and pull a big game out like that. The guys played great, so it was a well-deserved three points.”
On the energy tonight:
“It was the most energy definitely, it was the most energy certainly after the game. You could see how excited are guys were and they deserved to be. That was a great college hockey game, no matter which two teams are out there, no matter what the standings are, that was just a great hockey game. The energy was there from the start of it, had great chances at both ends, some great saves at both ends, lots of momentum shifts in the game and I had fun on the bench, I know that.”
On message to the players:
“The most important thing, and I said this to the players, that game is over now. Michigan will be better tomorrow, they will be really good. This is a challenge for us to get rested, recover and be ready to play a better game tomorrow from what we have learned from tonight’s game.”
Senior forward Seamus Malone
On the team message when Michigan took the lead:
“To keep our composure and keep the energy up. We have had some momentum swings that we had gotten down on the bench and they have gone bad for us, but I think we kept the energy up, kept going, and powered through that. We had a few unlucky bounces, but came back and competed hard.”
Freshman forward Roman Ahcan
On the effort of the little things:
“Everybody knows it is coming down to the end here, so everyone is giving that extra little effort, energy and support from each other. It will be good going into the playoffs.”
Sophomore forward Sean Dhooghe
On the feeling of the game-winning goal:
“Excitement, obviously, and a little bit of relief. We know we needed those three points and that is what it came down to. I think it was just relief and a little life. Just knowing we got the three tonight and we have the chance to get three more tomorrow.”
On the playoff feel of the game:
“It was a playoff atmosphere. I think tonight we pieced together a full 60 minutes of an honest hockey game. It is great, but as coach said we have to put that behind us and we need to find a way to piece together an entire weekend now. As part of our season, these are the most important games and trying to bring it back to home ice. Win or loss, we still have to put that behind us and put together an entire weekend.”
